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Streamline Your Surveying Operations
Control your operations to increase your efficiency in the field and improve your overall profitability with a Trimble® grade checking system from Ziegler Cat. Reap the accuracy of compensated angle measurements and exceptionally precise distance measurement.
Your grade checking system will use either GPS or total stations for accurate positioning. Our experts will help you evaluate each technology for its strengths and weaknesses in relation to your business, and factors including the size of your site and sight lines.
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Global positioning system (GPS) uses satellites and a base station as reference points to accurately calculate positions to a centimeter.
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Total stations rely on the unique “time-of-flight” pulse measurement technique, measuring the time it takes a very short transmitted pulse to travel to a target and back, calculating positions accurate to a few millimeters. A total station requires a direct line of sight to the machine for positioning accuracy.
Brochures and Specs
Trimble Site Positioning Systems Brochure (PDF 1.8 MB)
Snapshot Comparison: GPS vs. Total Station
Your Ziegler Cat specialist will help you evaluate the best system for the needs of your business based on the following key factors as well as other considerations.
| Factors |
GPS |
Total Station |
| Accuracy/Precision needs |
Accuracy to <10mm (.39 feet) <20mm (.78 feet) |
Accuracy to <3mm (.12 feet) |
| Safety and accessibility |
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Direct Reflex provides long-range reflectorless measurement
Measures dangerous and inaccessible surfaces from remote locations easily and safely
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Single or multi-user operation
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A single GPS base station supports multiple GPS rovers or GPS machine control systems on the same job site |
One instrument supports a single rover asset |
| Coverage area from a single set-up location |
Coverage >3 mile (5k) range from base station for typical TOPO measurement and stakeout operations
Repeater radios or cell phones can boost range further
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Coverage depends on line of sight; range of <1000 feet for typical TOPO measurement and stakeout operations |
| Ease of use and operator skill |
Easy to learn interface
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Easy to learn interface |
| Operating conditions |
Ideal for large, open site operation
Trees, buildings, bridges, tunnels, or other structures can prevent GPS sensor operation
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Ideal where line of sight to the sky is obscured or partially blocked by trees, buildings, structures, bridges, or tunnels
Requires line of sight for operation
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| Sensor calibration |
Requires no routine calibration to deliver specified accuracies |
Mechanical design needs routine periodic calibration and checks to deliver specified accuracies |
Related Information
Who is My Position Technologies Sales Specialist?
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